Community Watch - How to Make a Great Report
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We want to make sure everyone using Trade Me has a great experience when they buy or sell. Community Watch is the best way to notify us if a listing isn’t quite right. We have a specialist team who review the reports, and will take appropriate action behind the scenes. It's best to file one report per seller with all of the info in one report - if there are listings from different sellers, they can be reported separately. If you file multiple complaints on a listing, or on multiple listings from one seller, this can slow down our team from getting to your complaint.
In order for us to make the most of your complaint, we need as much information as possible. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
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Choosing the right complaint subject
It’s important to let us know exactly what the issue is with the listing you’re reporting, so we know what to keep an eye out for. You can let us know if:
- It shouldn’t be listed (or the listing should be withdrawn)
- The way it's listed is incorrect
- Someone’s using the Q&A inappropriately
- The seller is trying to avoid paying the right fees
- There are intellectual property concerns (counterfeit items, breach of trademark, etc.)
- It’s a face mask that’s not in line with our mask policy
If your complaint doesn’t neatly fit into the above, you can choose the ‘something else’ option. When you do this, it’s particularly important to include as much information as possible.
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Give us all the details!
Because we can’t all be industry experts about the 8 million listings on the site at any given time, we appreciate a helping hand from those who are. It’s important for us that you point out exactly where the issue is and why it’s a problem. Don’t be afraid to spell it out for us!
For example, if a listing is in the wrong category, it’s really helpful to let us know which category it should be in.
Or, if you think an item is a counterfeit product, don’t forget to add why you think that. Providing us with your source of information is a great way to do that. -
Attach any supporting evidence
Our team can only take action based on the evidence they can see. That’s why we need as much info from you as possible, regardless of which complaint subject you’ve chosen.
Most of the time, the evidence will be in the listing itself. Sometimes though, it’s not.
For example, if a car is listed on the site, and the seller has told you it’s been sold already. From our end, we have no way of telling the item isn’t up for grabs anymore – unless the seller mentions this in the description or Q&A themselves. If you’ve emailed or texted them, include a screenshot of your conversation with them so we can see if they’ve said it’s no longer available.
Here are some examples of great reports
Example 1
This report has the right options selected, and gives further detail about what specifically isn’t right about the listing. Nice!
Example 2
This report specifies why this isn’t the right category for the item that’s listed. Ka pai!
Here are some examples of not so great reports
Example 1
This one needs a bit of love. This report doesn’t give any information about what’s wrong with the listing or seller. We can’t do anything with this one.
Example 2
This is a well-detailed report, but the seller has no links to contact them, it is listed in the right spot, and is selling their parts through the site. All is good!
Example 3
Without any information or reasons why the item listed could be counterfeit, we don't have a lot to go on with this report.
So with these points in mind...
Go forth, make some great reports, and help us to help you!
If you have any questions, post them below
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Hi I reported a listing I was bidding on where someone was bumping price up by bidding them had it removed without all their bids being removed making it unfair auction have reported to TM you but would like confirmation that you received it
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Lynda Hi there! Trade Me staff don't often comment on here, and they next to never send a confirmation report.Personally as a seller, I find it a very tricky situation when people ask for a bid to be removed, because I feel bad for the under bidder, who is now leading with their absolute highest auto bid.I tend to leave the under bidders bid alone in this situation, because I fear that if I remove their bid as well, it may do more harm than good.If I removed their bid as well, they may not see the notification for example, and not realize that they need to re-bid, and they might miss out on something they really wanted, another thing that can happen is that is can cause confusion, and upset, so it is best to not remove peoples bids unless they specifically ask.The situation you describe, Trade Me will not do anything about, they give bidders the right to request that their bids are removed before an auction closes, the only thing you could do is ask for your bids to be removed as well and start again, although - be warned, this can piss sellers off, as basically you are asking them to reset the auction.Hopefully you get a better experience with your next trade!1
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Hi Thanks for your comment Simon was just a bit fishy the person who had their bid removed then put up the following comments when I asked all their bids to be remove HAHAH just not right they get to push up bidding then have theirs
removed:)
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I have twice asked trade me to check up on a trade but I still have no answer except sending me to this page, how do I get a actual reply as the buyer is getting impatient and keeps sending me abusive emails saying I have stolen her money.
How do I actually get a response from the trade me site?
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If you have already sent the package and the buyer is yet to receive it you need to get hold of the courier you used and ask them where the heck it is
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LucyTrade Me staff - Community team
Hi Daphne, that sounds like a dispute situation rather than a listing that needs reporting. I've asked our dedicated Disputes team to look into this for you asap. Thanks.
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How do you report a suspected intellectual property concern to Trade Me?
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why is it that you cant contact anyone at trademe anymore? For example, when you know that someone has removed your $1 bid coz they couldn't handle the fact that they stuffed up by starting their auction at a $1 reserve? This has happened to me at least a couple of times now and TradeMe is supporting this behaviour by allowing it to happen. But when you want to find out how to enquire about it, you get taken through a labyrinth of questions and explanations that often takes you in circles so that TM doesnt have to deal with the clients having problems using their antiquated platform!
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ChrisEditedSo how do i report a listing that has been withdrawn by the seller? The Q’s on the auction show that the seller negotiated a deal with a user in the Q’s and then withdrew the auction, but the community watch option is not on the listing, and your ‘contact us’ page won’t give me any way to contact you guys!
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I have not received the goods and the seller put a reply in the feedback saying she had not received payment yet - which
was a lie it is in her account on the 22nd of November . it ment when I reply I now cant post that she is a scammer as its counted as feed back . I assume she does this so you cant complain . uses the feedback as a question to the buyer
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are you sure the money went into the correct account?
you can email them to ask to check a date range and give them the info of when you paid how much and account number
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I want to report listing 3879577321 the top bidder pulled out at the end of the auction without contacting the seller The person who did this also lives in Cromwell where the seller lives, This a disgusting practice that needs attention.
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It seems to me that gigapromo is using a facsimile of aliexpress' logo when it suits them
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From your records of me, you will know that I am mostly a buyer of coins, medals, tokens and banknotes on Trade me for over twenty years. I write concerning Listing #3925677322 from a seller who has blatantly listed a coin as a :
"Two headed Penny Brockage Coin"
The coin is, in fact, nothing more than the front side of two coins glued together for $250. I wrote a message and referred him to the internet site (click on hot text highlighted) - Full Brockages — Collectors Universe
He, instead, has ignored the information and he Black Listed me to attempt to make the lie "go away".
Now, You, corporately speaking, do NOT make it easy to report, what is, a crime, He is selling something with INTENT TO DEFRAUD. Trade me, knowingly now, cannot ignore this matter. I have nothing to profit and, I understand that> at times, there are "gray areas". This is NOT one of those cases. The member KNOWS. Otherwise they would not have "blacklisted" me.
I took the TIME to report this because it IS a crime. PLEASE? do something? I refer you back to the hot text above: consult it. THEN ? Please act against this person? It is called "doing the right thing". There is WAY to much of the other bad stuff out there. You can FIX this...
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KarenEditedHi, new to Trade-me so I want to know if it is usual for an automated response to outbid you as soon as you make a bid... it seemed suspicious that as soon as I made a bid the bid was pushed up automatically .. 4 times I made a bid I was told a split second that I had been outbid... the bidding reached the reserve so I made another bid and again before you could blink the bot bid again.
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Hamish
Hi Vince, thanks for the heads up - if you use the "Report this listing" link on the live listing, our Trust and Safety team will review the listing.
And for your issue Karen, it sounds like the other buyer would have been using an Auto-Bid, an optional feature on the site that can be enabled when placing a bid. You can check out how Auto-Bids work here0 -
Heya, I need help. I’m an active seller on trade me, I pay my fees and I follow the rules, however I’ve been scammed over $1000 from this trader - tkeelan I have photo evidence of our conversation that took place prior to payment being sent, and then absolutely no response once it was sent. I then continued to try and contact them through trade me itself and send an alternative email.
Still nothing … I checked their listings and found that they were answering question today! 4-5 days after I have already purchased.
They mentioned the listing would be removed and it hasn’t, they’re still answering questions about the listing and making it look available. $1075 is a lot of money, and I need help. I’ve contacted trade me, but check out the listings .. so dodgyRegards
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Gary-NZStocked Community SuperuserEditedHow have you purchased yet there are questions being answered on the listing later on? When you win or buy something the listing closes and questions can no longer be answered, unless the seller has a multi quantity listing in which case you can purchase and the listing stays till finish time. If you have proof it's a scam and the listing is somehow still running, use the Communuity watch link at the bottom of the listing, or email Trademe T & S directly. They usually pull obvious scam listings within minutes.
Might pay to pop on to TM live chat and ask them to take a look.
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Please help!! They are scamming more people trademe user is tkeelan
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Gary-NZStocked Community Superuser
Remember this is a community forum for people to discuss trading problems with other members. You need to to contact Trademe if you have a problem with a specific trade or 2.
Did the seller contact you like they said they would yesterday? as they said they had not been online. Have you reported them to Trademe? Have you used the Community Watch button? and used Live Chat to bring to Trademe's attention? As other members, we can only suggest what to do, but only you can do it. Contact Trademe.
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jenquipltdEditedRealisticLivingFurniture - gosh after reading your comments and the replies then the feedback - I would not touch them, trademe need to jump onto that seller quick
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Where on the listing is "Community Watch" icon on a withdrawn lisitng??
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Gary-NZStocked Community Superuser
After the listing closes or is withdrawn there is no community watch option. It only shows on live listings.
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Ok, so not going crazy then. How does one report an issue if there is no icon to select and no way of actually contacting TM regarding the listing? Just keeps going round in circles with their auto-answering drop down menus.
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Gary-NZStocked Community Superuser
You just need to pick one of the topics that still has an email contact form to write to them, or use the Std Contact Us or Live Chat.
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I just stupidly paid for a grab and go emergency bag to a seller whose email bounces back and has only 30 feedback ( from 2017!) I did not see any of the warning signs!
After trying to contact TradeMe in multiple ways, reporting different avenues and reading this community watch thread I have little hope this seller actually will be shut down...He milks the current climate of anxiety to sell grab and go bags and cash in. It's as though f he's going invisible to TM.0 -
Gary-NZStocked Community Superuser
Hopefully Amelie you have managed to contact Trademe and also to click the Dispute Resolution button beside the listing in you Won items folder.
Unfortunately Trademe don't have the Dispute Resolution option directly in the auction or on your won items page on the new site anymore unless you paid by Ping or Afterpay. If you can't access the old site and if you paid by other means you need to put Dispute in to the Help page or go directly here to lodge a dispute.
Problems with your purchase – Help - Trade Me
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Iam having a problem trying to commnicate with a seller about a vechile 1996 mistisubishi pajero jr the sellers name is Lauren-De she is not answering the questions, and i have rang her 3 times and only get and answer phone.iam keen on the car regards Brian
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Gary-NZStocked Community Superuser
Brian, if the seller is not answering phone calls or emails, I would suggest looking elsewhere. Could be they have sold it already and have not withdrawn the listing so are simply ignoring everyone.
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Somehow a false sale was put up from my account and I only found out about it when advised it had been sold. I can find no way to report this to TradeMe, hence, why I posted here.
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